Why go en Chine?
The good reasons to go en Chine
An exceptional heritage
A thousand-year-old culture and 56 properties listed as World Heritage Sites (Unesco).
The variety of landscapes
From the Himalayas to the Tropics via the Gobi desert, it is a rich mosaic.
Visit the Forbidden City
One of the most important palaces in the world, residence of the Ming and Qing emperors.
For the great modern artists
In the wake of the famous Zhang Huan or Zhou Tiehai, a whole generation to discover.
Gastronomic diversity
The cuisine or rather the Chinese cuisines are enough to motivate a trip.
The Terracotta Army in Xi'an
Unique! An army of earth to defend the first emperor of China in the afterlife.
See pandas in the wild
Observe giant pandas in their bamboo forests.
Greeting the Everest
To make its ascent or simply to admire and pay homage to the highest summit of the world.
To practice your Mandarin
A language that is increasingly popular in the workplace. The same goes for Cantonese.
For the cost of living
With the airfare paid, the low cost of living in China allows a very affordable stay.
Good to know when visiting la Chine
Timetable
Museums are generally open from 9am to 5pm and closed on Mondays. The Tian'anmen Gate opens at 8:30 am (search your bag at the entrance). For the Great Wall, from Beijing, access in winter from 8am to 6pm, in summer from 6:30am to 7pm.
Budget & Tips
Free entrance to the National Museum of Beijing with a European passport, as well as to the Mausoleum of Mao.
Main events
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is undoubtedly the biggest event of the year, between the end of January and mid-February. Every Chinese person goes to his village or hometown for a big family reunion. All the good addresses are crowded. Public transportation is full. It is the occasion of fireworks and firecrackers during the longest public vacation in China, and to eat tons of Chinese ravioli!
The Lantern Festival, another traditional festival, takes place on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. Lanterns are lit up all over the streets as soon as it gets dark
For the Qingming Festival, on April 4 or 5, the ancestors' tombs are cleaned, people walk around and fly kites.
Forthe Dragon Boat Festival in late May or June, people eat glutinous rice cakes in bamboo leaves and race dragon boats
In August, the Qixi festival: it is the Chinese Valentine's Day
The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, is the occasion to offer and eat moon cakes which symbolize the reunion of the family. It is the second most important traditional holiday
In addition, there are the following holidays: January1, March 8, March 12 - National Reforestation Day, May1, May 4 - Chinese Youth Day (1919), June1 - Children's Day, July1 - Anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, August1 - Anniversary of the People's Liberation Army of China (1927), October1 - Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (1949) Chinese people usually take a week of vacation, it is the Golden Week! Book your hotels and activities in advance during this period.
Guided tours
Of course, a guided tour of museums or historical sites with a French-speaking guide will enrich your discoveries.
What's very local
Modesty is a must in China and the older you are, the more you cover your body and adopt dark colors. On the other hand, children wear very colorful clothes, especially red. And babies wear slit panties.
